HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0532.001 2020-2022 i
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Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2021 9:52 AM E
To:
Council Testimony
Subject: FW: KEEP HILO TOWN'S HISTORIC 4-MILE CREEK BRIDGE, SAVE TAXPAYERS PRECIOUS
HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS - 18 MILLION $$$$ { $18,000,000.00) { PLUS COST
OVERRUNS)
Attachments: Bi1197A.pdf, Bi1197C.pdf, Bi1197B.pdf
Z.
From: rce dslextreme.com <rce@dslextreme.com>
Sent:Tuesday, December 21, 20219:43 AM
To: Kimball, Heather<Heather.Kimball@hawaiicounty.gov>;Chung,Aaron<Aaron.Chung@hawaiicounty.gov>; Lee Loy, Sue
<Sue.LeeLoy@hawaiicounty.gov>; Kierkiewicz,Ashley<Ashley.Kierkiewicz@ hawaiicounty.gov>; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt
<Matt,Kanealii-Kleinfelder@ hawaiicounty.gov>; David, Maile<Mai le.David@ hawaiicounty.gov>;Villegas, Rebecca
<Rebecca.Villegas@hawaiicounty.gov>; Inaba, Holeka<Holeka.Inaba@hawaiicounty.gov>; Richards,Tim
<Tim.Richards@ hawaiicounty.gov>;senacasio<senacasio@capitol.hawaii.gov>;sensanbuenaventura
<sensanbuenaventura@capitol.hawaii.gov>;senkanuha<senkanuha@capitol.hawaii.gov>;seninouye
<seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov>; repnakashima<repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov>; reptodd<reptodd@capitol.hawaii.gov>;
reponishi<reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov>; repilagan<repilagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov>; repkapela
<repkapela@Capitol.hawaii.gov>; replowen<replowen@capitol.hawaii.gov>; reptarnas<reptarnas@Capitol.hawaii.gov>
Subject: Re: KEEP HILO TOWN'S HISTORIC 4-MILE CREEK BRIDGE,SAVE TAXPAYERS PRECIOUS HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS- 18
MILLION $$$$( $18,000,000.00) ( PLUS COST OVERRUNS)
Aloha Hawaii County Council Members,
Aloha Heather, Aaron, Sue, Ashley, Matt, Maile, Rebecca, Holeka and Tim,
Aloha Hawaii Island Legislative Delegation
Aloha Hawaii Island Senators Laura, Joy, Dru and Lorraine,
Aloha Hawaii Island Representatives Mark, Chris, Richard, Greggor, Jeanne, Nicole and David,
Attached are three pdf depictions of Hilo Town nui existing and proposed roads, that I will refer to in my
December 22, 2021 Council Meeting regarding Bill 97.
1. Hilo Town Connectivity, Bi1197A showing existing and proposed roads for Hilo Town nui, Haihai plus to
Waianuenanue plus and Route 130 Alternate Kick the Can Down the Road to Komohana plus.
2. 4-Mile Creek Bridge Bi1197B showing an enlarged rendition surrounding 4-Mile Creek Bridge with
proposed one way change and signing at a cost of three signs and probably no need for Haihai/Kilauea
intersection meddling since the Kilauea/Haihai left turn is eliminated. Big savings since no consultant
needed, no study needed, no nothing needed. r I .'
Com '�"t
1 Ref.To:
Ref.Date-
i
3. Priorities Bi1197C showing a list of proposed projects that need to be prioritized, as do all State and
Hawaii County road projects so we can all speak with a unified voice how Hawaii County/State roads will
be funded and improvements made.
Mahalo,
Bob Ernst
EAST HAWAII ROAD PRIORITIES
Aloha Laura, Richard, Greggor, Sue, Ashley and Matt,
Coming out of Greggors recent Kea'au Town Hall Meeting where the constituents in attendance rated their
priorities as Route 130 widening/4 laving, Puna makai/Hilo Town alternative route and also mentioned was
widen ing/4laning Route 11 mauka from Kamehmeha Schools through Kurtistown and beyond. You may
also want to include Stainback as how it fits into the connectivity scheme?
E
May I suggest the 6 of you join together as hui and thru public meetings come to a meeting of the minds
on how these projects specifically should be accomplished and then speak as one unified voice to get the
County Council and the Hawaii Island Legislative Delegation to adopt your findings and present them to
HDOT either directly as the unified decision and or through legislation 2022. Time is of the essence and as
was stated at the Greggor town hall it is past time to stop kicking the can down the road.
If there is anyway I may assist you please let me know.
Mahalo,
Bob Ernst
From: "rce" <rce@dslextreme.com> . ��-.�-
To: "heather kimball" <heather.kimball@hawaiicounty.gov>, "aaron Chung"
<aaron.chung@hawaiicounty.gov>, "sue leeloy" <sue.leeloy@hawaiicounty.gov>, "Council Member Ashley
L. Kierkiewicz" <ashley.kierkiewicz@hawaiicounty.gov>, "matt kanealii-kleinfelder" <matt.kanealii-
kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov>, "maile david" <maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov>, "rebecca villegas"
<rebecca.villegas@hawaiicounty.gov>, "holeka inaba" <holeka.inaba@hawaiicounty.gov>, "tim richards"
<tim.richards@hawaiicounty.gov>, "senacasio" <senacasio@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "sensanbuenaventura"
<sensanbuenaventura@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "senkanuha" <senkanuha@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "seninouye"
<seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "repnakashima" <repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "reptodd"
<reptodd@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "reponishi" <reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "repilagan"
<repilagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov>, "repkapela" <repkapela@Capitol.hawaii.gov>, "replowen"
<replowen@capitol.hawaii.gov>, "reptarnas" <reptarnas@Capitol.hawaii.gov>
Cc: "dbock" <dbock@hawaiitribune-herald.com>, "mbrestovansky" <mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-
herald.com>, "Nancy --West Hawaii Today" <whtlauer@gmail.com>, "pepler" <pepler@civilbeat.org>,
"Marcel Honore" <mhonore@civilbeat.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 9:30:07 AM
Subject: Re: KEEP HILO TOWN'S HISTORIC 4-MILE CREEK BRIDGE, SAVE TAXPAYERS PRECIOUS
HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS - 18 MILLION $$$$ ( $18,000,000.00 ) ( PLUS COST OVERRUNS )
Aloha Hawaii County Council Members,
2
Aloha Heather, Aaron, Sue, Ashley, Matt, Maile, Rebecca, Holeka and Tim,
Aloha Hawaii Island Legislative Delegation
Aloha Hawaii island Senators Laura, Joy, Dru and Lorraine
I
Aloha Hawaii Island Representatives Mark, Chris, Richard, Greggor, Jeanne, Nicole and David,
In a letter to the editor in todays Hilo Hawaii Tribune-Herald ( See below ) writer Phil Swarz from Papaiikou
asked about the essential Hamakua Bridges in view of the proposed $18,000,000.00 ( $6,000,000.00
County Tax Dollars and $12,000,000.00 State Tax Dollars. ) ( Eighteen Million hard earned tax dollars total
plus cost overruns. ) proposed to be spent on the non-essential Kilauea Avenue 100 year old historic
picturesque bridge that could provide better safety, connectivity and function as a one way bridge at $0 tax
dollar cost.
I
Hilo Town nui, Railroad Avenue Mauka to Komohana Street, Haiahai Street to Waianuenue Avenue and
everything in between is an example of connectivity galore.
I
Essential v Non-essential - Essential is no readily available alternative/connectivity route, Non-essential
is alternative routes/connectivity are readily available.
So where are the essential Hamakua Bridges on the State and County Capital Improvements Priority List?
p Y
Where is essential Route 130 widening, traffic jams daily, disaster, on priority list?
Where is essential Route 130 alternative route, can kicked down the road for decades, no Puna Makai C
alternative route, on priority list?
Where is essential Route 11 Kamehameha Schools Mauka, traffic jams daily, disaster, on the priority list? a
Where is the non-essential Kilauea 4-mile Creek Bridge on the priority list? ( If the non-
essential Kilauea 4-mile Creek Bridge was closed today there would be no traffic flow issues. }
My wife and I use the Kilauea 4-mile Creek Bridge daily traveling between Hilo Town and our home in
Mauna Huihui since we prefer Kilauea Avenue to the Hawaii Belt Road Highway. We also use Railroad
Avenue and could use any of the other north south and/or Makai to Mauka Hilo Town connectivity routes.
If any of you are not familiar with the above mentioned routes I volunteer to show you around.
Mahalo,
Bob Ernst
808-968-8611
Your Views
Bridges need work
Dear Public Works Department: I see we are going to spend $18 million to upgrade the one-lane bridge on
Kilauea Avenue. Sounds good and also expensive to work on bridges.
This brings up the Old Mamalahoa Highway bridges starting at Puueo ... and on up the coast to Hamakua
and beyond. Many, many of these bridges have poor drainage, if any, and poor top coatings. All these
bridges would last possibly forever if actually maintained.
3
Would it not be dollar- wise and penny-foolish to continue this way? And I am not even talking about the
roadways themselves, just the bridges. The old highway could be turned into a world-famous
bikeway/roadway. A diamond in the mud.
Phil Swarz
Papaikou
................
From: "rce" <rce@dslextreme.com>
To: "heather kimball" <heather.kimball@hawaiicounty.gov>, "aaron chung"
<aaron.chung@hawaiicounty.gov>, "sue leeloy" <sue.leeloy@hawaiicounty.gov>, "Council Member Ashley
L. Kierkiewicz" <ash ley.kierkiewicz@hawa i icou nty.gov>, "matt kanealii-kleinfelder" <matt.kanealii-
kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov>, "maile david" <maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov>, "rebecca villegas"
<rebecca.villegas@hawaiicounty.gov>, "holeka inaba" <holeka.inaba@hawaiicounty.gov>, "tim richards"
<tim.richards@hawaiicounty.gov>
Cc: "reponishi" <reponishi @capitol.hawaii.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 8:49:47 AM
Subject: KEEP HILO TOWN'S HISTORIC 4-MILE CREEK BRIDGE, SAVE TAXPAYERS PRECIOUS
HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS - 18 MILLION $$$$ ( $18,000,000.00 ) ( PLUS COST OVERRUNS )
Aloha Hawaii County Council Members,
Aloha Heather, Aaron, Sue, Ashley, Matt, Maile, Rebecca, Holeka and Tim,
Ashley is correct as she continues the multi-decade urgent cry from Puna Makai "no better time than
right now"to
-get funding for alternative access routes to Puna.
Where is the HDOT/State Legislature priority road money/budget list for Hawaii Island and where is Puna
Makai connectivity on that list?
Where is the Hawaii County priority money/budget list for the roads in Hawaii County and where is Puna
Makai connectivity on that list?
It is way past time to answer the multi-decade urgent cry from Puna Makai, like Red Hill, it should be
number one priority and like Red Hill it has been ignored/covered up for way too long.
Where is the ( meat ) priority list?
Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said the improved crash data is gratifying, but added that
residents in the area still need more routes to get in and out of their communities.
"The state can be leaning on that kind of data if they want, but/welcome them to ride along with us
on our commutes one of these days,"Kierkiewicz said.
Kierkiewicz said there is "no better time than right now" to get funding for alternative access routes
to Puna, with the federal government awarding infrastructure grants for projects across the
country.
"The traffic is a real thing, and it's terrible, and it was like that before COVID,"Kierkiewicz said.
"Kids are going to school again, people are going back to work. Maybe you could get from Pahoa
to Keaau in 20 minutes during the pandemic, but not anymore.
Mahalo,
4
Bob Ernst
roundaboutsPuna A
DOT cites improved traffic safety along Highway 130
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
A pair of roundabouts on Highway 130 have improved the roadway enough that plans to build another two
roundabouts have been shelved.
In 2020, state legislators allocated $30 million in capital improvements funds for road improvements
to Keaau-Pahoa Road, or Highway 130. Among those planned improvements were roundabouts that would
be built at the highway's intersection with both Makuu Drive and Orchidland Drive.
Later in 2020, the project faced delays because of impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The
project, said Department of Transportation spokeswoman Shelly Kunishige at the time, was to be funded
by a rental car surcharge, but the pandemic limited the amount of funds actually collected.
Now, however, plans for the roundabouts have been suspended.
"We're deferring those projects right now," Kunishige said Monday. "We're going to keep an eye on crash
and speed data for the highway over the next three years, but if the data stays good, then (the
roundabouts)won't be necessary."
The planned
KUNISHIGE
KIERKIEWICZ
roundabouts were intended to reduce crashes along the Highway 130 corridor, Kunishige said. But since
the installation of the two roundabouts on the highway— one installed in Pahoa in 2016, the other in
Ainaloa in 2020 —the rate of traffic crashes at the Makuu and Orchidland intersections has declined.
According to DOT data, there were nine major crashes at the Highway 130-Makuu Drive intersection in
2016, and 11 in 2017. But then the number of crashes dropped substantially, with four in 2018 and five in
both 2019 and 2020. So far, there have been no major crashes at that intersection this year.
The pattern is similar for the Highway 130-Orchidland Drive intersection: five crashes in 2016, six in 2017,
then two crashes in both 2018 and 2019, three in 2020, and only one this year.
Kunishige credited the Pahoa and Ainaloa roundabouts for reducing crashes, and said that as long as the
crash data stays low—the threshold is nine major crashes within three years—the deferred roundabouts
will be dropped entirely.
Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said the improved crash data is gratifying, but added that
residents in the area still need more routes to get in and out of their communities
"The state can be leaning on that kind of data if they want, but 1 welcome them to ride along with us
on our commutes one of these days,"Kierkiewicz said.
Kierkiewicz said there is "no better time than right now" to get funding for alternative access routes
to Puna, with the federal government awarding infrastructure grants for projects across the
country.
5
"The traffic is a real thing, and it's terrible, and it was like that before C rkiewicz said.
"Kids are going to school again, people are you could get from Pahoa
going back to work. Maybe IL
to Keaau in 20 minutes during the pandemic, but not anymore."
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune- herald.com.-
............ waw .............
From: "rce" <rce@dslextreme.com>
To: "heather kimball" <heather.ki m bal I @hawai ico u nty.gov>, "aaron Chung"
<aaron.chung@hawaiicounty.gov>, "sue leeloy" <sue.leeloy@hawaiicounty.gov>, "ashley kierkiewicz"
<ash ley.kierkiewicz@hawaiicounty.gov>, "matt kanealii-kleinfelder" <matt.kanealii-
kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov>, "maile david" <maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov>, "rebecca villegas"
<rebeeca.villegas@hawaiicounty.gov>, "holeka inaba" <holeka.inaba@hawaiicounty.gov>, "tim richards"
<tim.richards@hawaiicounty.gov>
Cc: "reponishi" <reponishi @capitol.hawaii.gov>
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2021 7:02:38 PM
Subject: KEEP HILO TOWN'S HISTORIC 4-MILE CREEK BRIDGE, SAVE TAXPAYERS PRECIOUS
HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS - 18 MILLION $$$$ ( $18,000,000.00 ) ( PLUS COST OVERRUNS )
KEEP HIL O TOWN'S HISTORIC 4-MILE CREEK BRIDGE, SAVE TAXPAYERS PRECIOUS HARD
EARNED TAX DOLLARS - 18 MILLION $$$$ ( $18,000,000.00 ) ( PLUS COST OVERRUNS )
Aloha Hawaii County Council Members,
Aloha Heather, Aaron, Sue, Ashley, Matt, Maile, Rebecca, Holeka and Tim,
1. Step one, remove information direction sign on highway Hawaii Belt Road that directs downtown traffic
over non-right of way one lane bridge to Kilauea Avenue. First of all it is so dumb to direct traffic over a one
lane non right of way Kilauea Avenue 4 Mile Creek Bridge, especially when in the next mile Hilo direction
there are many alternative left turn access to Kilauea Avenue both with and without traffic lights, E. Palai
Street no traffic light, E. Kawailani Street with traffic light, E. Kahaopea Street with traffic light, E Puainako
Street with traffic light and further towards Hilo Town E Kawili Street, E. Lanikaula Street, Kekuanaoa
Street, Pauahi Street, Ponahawai Street,
This area of Hawaii Island County has the most road connectivity than probably any other location on the
Island, Makai to Mauka, Railroad Avenue from Lama to Leilani Street, Hawaii Belt Road, Kilauea
Avenue, Kinoole Street, Komohana Street with connecting Makai to Mauka connecting streets as listed
above.
2. If you are interested in saving your constituent taxpayers 18 MILLION $$$$ ( $18,000)000.00 ) { PLUS
COST OVERRUNS ) and also save a 100 year-old picturesque historic bridge, an example of early Hilo
Town and implement change immediately at little to no cost a safer and efficient alternative, no need for
Haihai traffic study and/or traffic signals, please contact me for further information. If any of you, especially
non Hilo Town area Council members, are not familiar with the Kilauea bridge area and/or the extent of the
connectivity I would be happy to show you the area.
My wife and I prefer to use Kilauea Avenue which we do daily, and have done for decades, as we do not
care to use the busy non-accommodating Hawaii Belt Road Highway in this area.
The 18 MILLION $$$$ ( $18,000,000.00 ) ( PLUS COST OVERRUNS ) could be used where it is really
needed or if there is too much money sitting in the pot it could be returned to the taxpayers with a reduced
gas tax to lower the current exorbitant gas prices.
6
Mahala,
Bob Ernst
808-968-8611
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